Introgression of resistance to reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis) into upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) from Gossypium arboreum and a G. hirsutum/Gossypium aridum bridging line

Gossypium hirsutum L. is the predominant cotton of commerce and all cultivars of this species are susceptible to the reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis. To introgress resistance to R. reniformis into the tetraploid 2(AD₁) G. hirsutum, a resistant diploid A₂-genome Gossypium arboreum accession (A₂-190) was crossed with a hexaploid 2((AD₁)D₄) bridging line (G 371) to obtain a tetraploid triple-species hybrid. The triple-species hybrid was back-crossed to G. hirsutum and a population of 277 BC₁ individuals was produced. The BC₁s and controls were assayed in growth chambers for resistance to R. reniformis. Fortuitously, the hexaploid bridging line G 371 was also found to be resistant to R. reniformis. The BC₁ segregated 3:1, resistant:susceptible, indicating that resistance was conferred by dominant genes at two different loci, with each originating from a distinct germplasm source. This study demonstrated that it is possible to introgress and pyramid genes for resistance to R. reniformis in G. hirsutum.     

Development of high yielding IR64 × <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza rufipogon</Emphasis> (Griff.) introgression lines and identification of introgressed alien chromosome segments using SSR markers

Modern rice varieties that ushered in the green revolution brought about dramatic increase in rice production worldwide but at the cost of genetic diversity at the farmers’ fields. The wild species germplasm can be used for broadening the genetic base and improving productivity. Mining of alleles at productivity QTL from related wild species under simultaneous backcrossing and evaluation, accompanied by molecular marker analysis has emerged as an effective plant breeding strategy for utilization of wild species germplasm. In the present study, a limited backcross strategy was used to introgress QTL associated with yield and yield components from Oryza rufipogon (acc. IRGC 105491) to cultivated rice, O. sativa cv IR64. A set of 12 BC₂F₆ progenies, selected from among more than 100 BC₂F₅ progenies were evaluated for yield and yield components. For plant height, days to 50% flowering and tillers/plant, the introgression lines did not show any significant change compared to the recurrent parent IR64. For yield, 9 of the 12 introgression lines showed significantly higher yield (19–38%) than the recurrent parent IR64. Four of these lines originating from a common lineage showed higher yield due to increase in grain weight and another three also from a common lineage showed yield increase due to increase in grain number per panicle. For analyzing the introgression at molecular level all the 12 lines were analyzed for 259 polymorphic SSR markers. Of the total 259 SSR markers analyzed, only 18 (7.0%) showed introgression from O. rufipogon for chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 11. Graphical genotypes have been prepared for each line and association between the introgression regions and the traits that increased yield is reported. Based on marker trait association it appears that some of the QTL are stable across the environments and genetic backgrounds and can be exploited universally.     

Molecular analysis of cytoplasm type in Indian potato varieties

Thirty-eight Indian potato varieties and fifty-two advanced hybrid lines were analyzed for cytoplasm types using both plastid and mitochondrial genome specific markers. Indian genotypes thus analysed could be broadly grouped into 4 cytoplasm types i.e. T/β (69), W/α (18), W/γ (1) and A/ɛ (2). The T/β type cytoplasm, typical of common cultivated potato (ssp. tuberosum) was absent in six released varieties (Kufri Chipsona-1/-2/-3 series, Kufri Jawahar, Kufri Megha and Kufri Himalini) and fifteen out of fifty two hybrids analyzed. This information was further used to predict cytoplasm type on the basis of common shared maternal pedigree in thirty-eight other advanced hybrids, which revealed majority (25) had T/β type cytoplasm with W/α and A/ɛ cytoplasm observed in 12 and 1 genotype, respectively. T/β type cytoplasm was observed in all 28 early bulking hybrids studied along with all old genotypes. It was revealed that considerable broadening of maternal base was observed in recently developed genotypes. W/α type cytoplasm was present in most of processing (all 3 chipping varieties and 9 of 12 MP hybrids) and late blight resistant (11of 23 hybrids) genotypes.     

A physical map of chromosome 4Hch from H. chilense containing SSR, STS and EST-SSR molecular markers

The construction of a physical map of chromosome 4H^ch from Hordeum chilense containing molecular markers capable of detecting segments of this chromosome in a wheat background would be very useful for marker-assisted introgression of 4H^ch chromatin into both durum and common wheat. With this aim, the applicability of 106 barley chromosome 4H primers (62 SSRs and 44 STSs) to amplify markers showing polymorphism between H. chilense and both common or bread and durum wheat was investigated. Twenty-five SSR (40.3%) and six STS (13.6%) barley primer pairs consistently amplified H. chilense products. Eight SSR (12.9%) and four STS (9.1%) barley primers were polymorphic between H. chilense and both common and durum wheat, 10 of them (6 SSRs and 4 STSs) were located on chromosome 4H^ch using both the addition line of chromosome 4H^ch in Chinese Spring wheat and a tritordeum line (an amphiploid between H. chilense and T. turgidum) nullisomic for chromosome 4H^ch. Additionally, 18 EST-SSR barley markers previously located on chromosome 4H^ch were screened for polymorphism; 15 were polymorphic between H. chilense and both durum and common wheat. For physical mapping we used a ditelosomic tritordeum line for the short arm of chromosome 4H^ch and a tritordeum line homozygous for a 70% terminal deletion of the long arm of 4H^ch. A total of 25 markers (6 SSRs, 4 STSs and 15 EST-SSRs) were mapped to chromosome 4H^ch. Eight markers were allocated on the 4H^chS, eight were mapped in the 30% proximal region of 4H^chL and nine were on the 70% distal region of 4H^chL, respectively. Arm location on barley chromosome 4H was also carried out using both 4HS and 4HL ditelosomic addition lines in wheat. All markers mapped may have a role in marker-assisted introgression of chromatin segments of chromosome 4H^ch in both durum and common wheat backgrounds. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Gamete selection for improving physiological resistance to white mold in common bean

White mold (WM), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a widespread disease of dry and green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in North America. Gamete selection (GS) was effective to combine and pyramide resistant genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) for common bacterial blight. Our objective was to determine the effectiveness of GS to introgress physiological resistance to white mold. Two inter-gene-pool double-cross populations were developed. Selection for WM resistance was practiced from F₁ to F₄. Thirteen selected F_1:5 breeding lines of each population and their four parents were evaluated. Two separate inoculations were made on each plant 1 week apart using a cut-stem method. The WM reaction was scored at 16, 23, and 33 days post inoculation (DPI) using a scale from 1 (no disease) to 9 (severely diseased or dead). In F₁, 52% of Pop I (USPT-WM-1/CORN 601//USPT-CBB-1/92BG-7) and 67% of Pop II (Chase/I9365-25//ABL 15/A 195) susceptible plants were discarded. In F_4, only 1.2% of families from Pop I, and 0.9% for Pop II, survived the selection process. An average of 20.5% gain in WM resistance was obtained for both populations in F₄. Four breeding lines of Pop I had significantly (P = 0.05) lower WM score (4.1–4.6) and four were equal (4.7–4.9) to the best WM-resistant parent 92BG-7 (4.9), while ten breeding lines of Pop II were equal (4.5–4.8) to the best WM-resistant parent A 195 (4.6). Thus, GS was effective for improving WM resistance in common bean.     

Molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling aluminium tolerance in bread wheat

Aluminium (Al) toxicity is a major constraint to crop productivity in acidic soils. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed to identify the genetic basis of Al tolerance in the wheat cultivar ‘Chinese Spring’. A nutrient solution culture approach was undertaken with the root tolerance index (RTI) and hematoxylin staining method as parameters to assess the Al tolerance. Using a set of D genome introgression lines, a major Al tolerance QTL was located on chromosome arm 4DL, explaining 31% of the phenotypic variance present in the population. A doubled haploid population was used to map a second major Al tolerance QTL to chromosome arm 3BL. This major QTL (Qalt _CS .ipk-3B) in ‘Chinese Spring’ accounted for 49% of the phenotypic variation. Linkage of this latter QTL to SSR markers opens the possibility to apply marker-assisted selection (MAS) and pyramiding of this new QTL to improve the Al tolerance of wheat cultivars in breeding programmes.     

粳稻超优1号背景回交导入系的耐热性筛选与评价

全球气候变暖不可避免地影响水稻的生产。本研究以粳稻品种超优1号为轮回亲本与9个来自不同国家的供体品种杂交培育的BC₂F₄回交导入群体为材料, 通过开花期高温胁迫, 共初筛到124个耐高温单株; 以粳稻为供体的回交导入群体出现耐热个体的频率高于籼稻供体的导入群体, 表明粳稻资源中同样存在耐热有利基因。经对初筛后代的耐热性重复鉴定和在正常条件下的性状评价, 发现有80个株系的结实率显著高于轮回亲本, 耐热性选择效率为64.5%, 这些耐热导入系的产量及其相关性状在高温胁迫和正常条件下均出现广幅分离, 从中鉴定出耐热性和产量性状均显著好于轮回亲本的8个优良导入系。在3个耐热导入系的聚合F₂群体中, 筛选出耐热个体的平均结实率在80%以上, 极显著高于轮回亲本和最高聚合亲本, 从中获得106株耐热性极显著好于聚合亲本的单株, 显示出较理想的耐热性聚合效果。通过对耐热导入系和轮回亲本在正常和高温胁迫条件下的产量以及相关性状的表型比较分析, 有助于提高对水稻耐热性状筛选中的供体选择、选择效率和筛选方法等一些重要问题的认识。本研究获得的高产耐热聚合系, 将为水稻耐热有利基因发掘和耐热性标记辅助选择聚合育种提供宝贵材料。     

高产、抗旱和耐盐选择对水稻产量相关性状的影响

水稻生产受到许多环境因素的胁迫,其中干旱和盐害是两大最重要的非生物逆境,培育抗旱和耐盐品种是减轻这两种逆境危害最经济有效的措施。利用籼型供体广恢122、Bg94-1和粳型供体原粳7号、沈农89366导入高产优质籼型品种丰矮占1号背景,创建BC3F5导入系群体,经目标性状筛选,以获得的2个高产抗旱导入系丰矮占1号/广恢122和丰矮占1号/原粳7号为亲本进行高产抗旱聚合,以高产耐盐导入系丰矮占1号/沈农89366和丰矮占1号/Bg94-1进行高产耐盐聚合。以聚合亲本为对照,在2个F2聚合群体中分别进行抗旱、耐盐、高产筛选,每个聚合群体分别获得30～42个不等的抗旱、耐盐和高产性状的极端个体,不同性状的选择强度变幅为8.3%～11.7%。3个目标性状极端选择后代在正常水田种植,其产量相关性状抽穗期、单株有效穗数、穗总粒数、穗实粒数、结实率、千粒重等均呈现明显的分离,各性状的变异方向因不同的选择群体和选择性状而异。在2个聚合组合的6个选择群体后代,有效穗数和每穗实粒数对单株产量的贡献最大,前者平均贡献率为18.5%,变幅为12.9%～27.4%,后者平均贡献率为13.1%,变幅为9.0%～21.2%。经过不同性状的交叉筛选,2个聚合组合的抗旱选择群体分别出现10.0%和36.7%耐盐的株系,其平均耐盐水平与耐盐选择群体相当,表明水稻抗旱和耐盐存在一定程度的遗传重叠。提出了利用回交导入系先进行抗旱、耐盐筛选,再进行产量选择和在此基础上对3个性状进一步聚合的高产抗旱和高产耐盐新品种培育策略。     

利用选择导入系分析大豆芽期和苗期耐旱性的遗传重叠

以黑龙江主栽品种红丰11为母本, 与美国品种Clark杂交, 再以红丰11为轮回亲本, 对回交后代的芽期和苗期的耐旱性进行筛选。结果获得芽期耐旱导入系44个,采用单项方差分析检测到10个控制芽期耐旱性的QTL;获得苗期耐旱导入系46个,检测到影响苗期叶片相对含水量、叶片持水能力、胁迫期间株高变化量的21个QTL。大多数位点的遗传是相互独立的,只有分布于A1、K、I和H连锁群上的Satt449、Satt499、Satt440和Sat_180位点是在芽期、苗期干旱条件下共同检测到的,表明芽期和苗期的耐旱性存在部分的遗传重叠。以上结果为深入研究大豆耐旱性以及进行分子设计育种以累加芽期苗期重要耐旱QTL奠定了基础。     

回交导入后代群体中玉米耐旱基因的鉴定研究

种质资源蕴藏着品种遗传改良的各种有利基因，高效发掘种质资源的有利基因是实现育种突破的前提。本研究选择丹340、齐319和掖478为轮回亲本与34个供体的回交世代BC2F2群体为材料，在干旱胁迫条件下，通过测定雌雄穗开花间隔（ASI）进行耐旱鉴定。结果表明，尽管有些亲本本身对缺水环境不具备很好的耐性，但在绝大多数回交后代中均出现耐旱的超亲分离，表明这些供体均带有对这些性状的有利基因。这种潜在“隐蔽”有利基因的表达受遗传背景影响较大。从总体上看，耐旱性状的选择效率以齐319背景最高，掖478背景次之，丹340背景最低。研究表明通过大规模回交导入，并对回交后代性状的严格鉴定是发掘种质资源有利基因的有效途径。